Hill Country Picnic kicks off this weekend in Potts Camp

POTTS CAMP – The last year has been a whirlwind – but the good kind – for Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm.
The “Juke Joint Duo” released its album, “2 Man Wrecking Crew,” last October, and the pair’s spent much of their time on the road. Burnside, grandson of legendary bluesman R.L. Burnside, and Steve “Lightnin’” Malcolm are wrapping up one tour with this weekend’s Hill Country Picnic and will soon travel overseas for more shows.
“It’s been great. In a few weeks we’re leaving to go over to Canada, and then Paris and Italy and other places in Europe and Australia, so it’s been really good,” Malcolm said. “We thank God for it. We’ve just been traveling real hard.”
Malcom said the Hill Country Picnic is one of his favorite events of the year. The festival gathers a host of hill country blues artists for two days full of the blues in Potts Camp.
“It makes a lot of sense, because you have all these great guys who play right around the neighborhood,” said Malcolm, who was born in Missouri but now resides in North Mississippi’s hills. “It’s always nice to hear good music out in the woods like that. It’s a beautiful setting. The music brings together a lot of really cool people, so it’s like a big family, a big family barbecue.”
Fans of “2 Man Wrecking Crew” will surely enjoy Malcolm and Burnside’s live show.
“It’s exactly like the album, because the album was (recorded) live, in one take,” he said. “It’s better, it’s more energetic.”
Speaking of the album, Burnside and Malcolm hope to repeat last fall this year.
“That’s the first thing we do when we get off the road for a few days: We’re going to lay down at least one other album, if not two,” Malcolm said. The guys put their surroundings into the music, he said.
“We just sit around and make up our songs when we least expect it,” Malcolm said. “”We’ll be sitting around on the front porch jamming, and then you’re making something so good, right down the road from Potts Camp, out in the hills.”
Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm are ready for the Hill Country Picnic, and they invite all blues fans to check out the sounds.
“Don’t miss it, because you’re going to see a world class blues festival right in your back yard,” Malcolm said. “You’re going to see bands that play all over the world, bands people pay thousands of dollars to see. You’d be a fool to miss it.”

Catch the blues
What: Hill Country Picnic
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: Potts Camp (From the Potts Camp exit off Highway 78, go .3 miles to stop sign and turn left on to Church Avenue. Go .4 miles and turn right on to Center Ave (Highway 349). Cross railroad tracks and go .9 miles. Picnic is on the left.)
Cost: $25 Friday or Saturday, free for ages 12 and under; $25 per person for camping either one or two nights; $10 cooler free.
Info: nmshillcountrypicnic.com